Rasaanubhava 2013: An Audio Visual Delight

Photos: Amitava Sarkar

Photos: Amitava Sarkar

HOUSTON: A large number of enthusiastic students of the Abhinaya School of Performing Arts presented “Rasaanubhava ’13, the annual recital at the Kaplan Theater, Jewish Community Center on March 30, 2013 as a dedication to the classical arts of Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi.

The director Indrani Parthasarathy well versed in the Pandanallur style of Bharathanatyam and also trained in Kuchipudi style of dancing is the daughter of the Karnataka Kalathilaka Guru Radha Sridhar of Bangalore. She has to her credit more than 100 solo performances, has been a performer in India, UAE and USA and has been a part of her mother’s dance drama productions.

Indrani established the “Abhinaya School of Performing Arts” in 2001 which is originally based in Katy has now grown and has branches in Cypress and Pearland.

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The annual recital began with the junior performance emceed by Deepti Setlur. The junior students presented a highly colorful yet synchronized performance maintaining their lines and formations from adavus to Jathiswaram. Indrani had specially choreographed some folk and fusion dances to suit the age group of 5-8. The students performed with fervor and confidence in their coordinated costumes. The Junior performance started at 2pm and ended at 3:30pm.

The senior segment began 4pm with the highlight of the evening, a forty minute dance drama “The Tulsi Garland”. The dance drama, based on the story of Goda devi a Vaishnavite saint, was beautifully enacted by the senior students. Neeraja stood out as Goda devi while Avira, Shreya, Spoorthi, Aishwarya, Seetha, Sammitha, Sailakshmi, Shruthi, Priyanka and Maya complemented out as the beautiful friends of Goda. Anupama as the playful Krishna, Ritvik as Vishnuchitta supported well, as the male characters. Mellifluous music composition and vocals by Srivatsa, effective lighting and colorful costumes added to the effectiveness of the drama.

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The senior recital had an array of beautifully choreographed traditional classical dances like the Shabdams, Jathiswaram, Padam, Keerthanams and Thillana. They also presented contemporary thematic presentations like peace, enlightenment, music, musical instruments and love. The intricate choreography stood out more because of the colorful coordinated special costumes. The joy and passion for dancing was evident on the faces of the students as they performed.

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Every student happily received a specially designed Rasaanubhava’13 trophy with a Indian dance art work on it.

Anupama Nagasimha, the assistant teacher at Abhinaya School of Performing Arts thanked everyone and concluded with a note of admiration choreographing, planning and executing an event like Rasaanubhava and appreciation for her teacher’s passion and hard work in making this event a success.